Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner URL Conversion memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component URL Conversion Handler. The manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability was named CVE-2014-2994. In addition, an exploit is available. This vulnerability is historically impactful due to its background and the reception it garnered.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner (version now known). Affected is some unknown processing of the component URL Conversion Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Stack-based buffer overflow in Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner (WVS) 8 build 20120704 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an HTML file containing an IMG element with a long URL (src attribute).

The weakness was presented 04/23/2014 by Danor Cohen (An7i) as Pwn the n00bs - Acunetix 0day as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at an7isec.blogspot.co.il. The public release happened without coordination with the vendor. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2014-2994 since 04/24/2014. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 05/12/2026). This vulnerability has a historic impact due to its background and reception. The advisory points out:

ACUNETIX gets its information about external domains as a URL. (...) URL string accepts only printable alphanumeric chars and URL converted special chars (with few exceptions). So if my external source contains one of the special chars, they will be converted into "%SOMETHING".

A public exploit has been developed by Danor Cohen (An7i) in Perl and been published immediately after the advisory. The exploit is shared for download at an7i.net. It is declared as highly functional. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 122047 (Acunetix Web Vulnerability 8 Scanner Buffer Overflow Vulnerability).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (93073), Exploit-DB (32997), SecurityFocus (BID 67058†), OSVDB (106215†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-44676†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

Screenshot

Video

Open Video | Show More Videos

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.3

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Author: Danor Cohen (An7i)
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

04/23/2014 🔍
04/23/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/23/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/23/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/24/2014 +1 days 🔍
04/24/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/25/2014 +1 days 🔍
04/27/2014 +2 days 🔍
05/28/2014 +31 days 🔍
05/12/2026 +4366 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: Pwn the n00bs - Acunetix 0day
Researcher: Danor Cohen (An7i)
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2014-2994 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-2994
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-13068
X-Force: 93073 - Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner HTML file buffer overflow, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 67058 - Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner Remote Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 106215
Vulnerability Center: 44676 - Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner (WVS) Remote Code Execution via a Long URL, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 04/25/2014 13:16
Updated: 05/12/2026 01:43
Changes: 04/25/2014 13:16 (57), 05/29/2017 08:56 (25), 12/17/2024 10:45 (18), 05/12/2026 01:43 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!